Transfer Centre

Brentford sign Icelandic goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson

By Ben Sully | 26 January 2024

Brentford make their third addition of the January transfer window with the the signing of Icelandic goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson from Elfsborg.

Brentford have completed the permanent signing of Hakon Valdimarsson from Swedish side Elfsborg.

The Iceland international has put pen to paper on a contract which runs until June 2028, with the option to extend by two additional years.

Valdimarsson has joined the club for a reported £2.6m fee after the Bees won the race to secure his signature amid interest from fellow Premier League side Aston Villa.

The 22-year-old will add to Brentford's current goalkeeping options, which include their first-choice shot-stopper Mark Flekken and his deputy Thomas Strakosha.

"I'm very, very happy that we've managed to sign Hakon," Brentford boss Thomas Frank told the club's official website. "There was competition from a lot of other clubs, including some in the Premier League. We are growing as a club, and we have proven that we make players better.

Welcome to the Bees, Hákon! ✍️

Brentford has completed the signing of goalkeeper Hákon Valdimarsson from Swedish side Elfsborg, subject to international clearance #BrentfordFC | @premierleague 🔴
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) January 26, 2024

"Hakon is an exciting keeper. He is good at dominating his box, claiming crosses from set-pieces and in open play. His distribution is also at a high level.

"He fits the way we want to play, which is very important. Hakon is coming in to strengthen our goalkeeper group and to compete.

"We are very happy with Mark Flekken - he has settled into the club, the group and the team and we know that there is even more to come from him.

"We are also very satisfied with Thomas Strakosha, who has shown his quality this season and played some important minutes.

"Now we have a younger keeper with big potential coming in to push Mark and Thomas, along with Ellery Balcombe and Matt Cox."

Brentford manager Thomas Frank before the match on December 27, 2023 © Reuters

Valdimarsson has become Brentford's third signing of the summer following the arrivals of Yunus Emre Konak and Sergio Reguilon on permanent and loan deals respectively.

The goalkeeper enjoyed a strong 2023 campaign with Elfsborg, keeping 14 clean sheets in 29 league matches to be named the Allsvenskan's goalkeeper of the season.

Unfortunately, his side missed out on the league title on goal difference after they finished level on 64 points with the champions Malmo.

Valdimarsson, who joined Elfsborg in 2021, leaves the Swedish club after making a total of 49 appearances across all competitions.

With no game this weekend, Brentford will be in action on Wednesday when they face Tottenham Hotspur in an away Premier League fixture.